Senior Portraits Photography | 12 Posing Tips

Senior Portraits Photography Posing Tips

Senior Portraits Photography | Dema’s senior photos by Dustin Meyer.

Once in a while, I get a senior portraits photography session that knocks my socks off. Dema was that session. Having a passion for photography herself, Dema was open to ideas as well as sharing a few of her own.

Aside from getting stunning photos from her photo session, Dema shows us the right way to smile, having the right posture, using different poses, and how to create a more flattering look for your senior portraits. Many of us like taking pictures, but sometimes we don’t know how to stand, pose, smile, or relax for photos. I always recommend adding some variety to my senior portraits photography sessions. But some of us don’t always get it right because we’ve been trained wrong when it comes to being photographed.

Here are some tips on how to create a more flattering look for your session…

Tip 1: Relax Your Face Muscles

We don’t realize it, but tightening your jaw muscles by clenching your jaw can actually make your face appear wider than it actually is. And who wants that?

Relax your facial muscles to create a more natural shape for your face. It looks more slender and opens the eyes.

Tip 2: Show Some Teeth

And I don’t mean by smiling. When the jaw is relaxed and the lips are parted, the teeth will show without looking clenched. When we clench our teeth, it creates the impression of being stressed, nervous, or downright afraid of the camera. Either way, by showing a little teeth, you’ll appear more relaxed.

Tip 3: Bend Your Knee

Instead of having your body turned directly towards the camera, turn it at an angle slightly away from the camera and bend the knee closest to the camera. It creates a “figure 8” shape for your body that looks more pleasing by showing your natural figure.

Tip 4: Tilt Your Head

Tilting your head slightly creates a more relaxed look. It’s considered more passive than aggressive. Unless you’re going for a more fierce pose, tilting your head slightly makes a shot look more casual.

Tip 5: Have Good Posture

Enhance your senior portraits with good posture. When you slouch, it actually makes your figure appear wider. This photo is a great example of why having the right posture creates a more flattering shot.

Tip 6: Put Your Hand On Your Hip

Tip 7: Keep Your Chin Up

Even I make the mistake of lowering my chin in photos once in a while. By raising your chin, it lengthens and slenderizes the next and prevents the “double chin” effect.

Tip 8: The “S” Curve

This next tip is a perfect way to do a straight-on shot where the body directly faces the camera, but without making it appear bulky. The “S” curve is exactly what it sounds like. Placin one knee slightly in front of the other and tilt your head in the opposite direction from the way your upper body is leaning. It brings your knees closer together and shows your natural curves.

Tip 9: Look Away

It’s not required to look at the camera for every single photo. This creates a more candid and relaxed look. Take it a step further by looking downward to show off your lashes.

Tip 10: Giggle

Sometimes when we smile, it looks unnatural. We lift our eyebrows and wrinkle our foreheads. Our face muscles tense up and we clench our teeth. This creates a surprised or nervous look in your senior portraits. Think of something funny and giggle or laugh out loud. Your eyes will match your smile, so your smiles look more genuine and less forced.

Tip 11: Ears and Hair

There’s nothing wrong with showing your ears. Many of my senior portraits photography clients have lots of earrings and other accessories to go with their outfits. However, it can look awkward when you tuck your hair behind your ear. It makes your ears appear bigger and makes them stand out more. Instead, sweep your hair behind your head and cover only the top of your ear. This shows off the earring you’ve chosen for your outfit without making it stand out.

Most Importantly: Have Fun

My senior portraits photography sessions are designed to be fun, as well as produce stunning and natural-looking photos. By following these simple tips and having a good laugh now and then, you can get some amazing results.

Austin, TX.
Dustin Meyer is a internationally recognized wedding and portrait photographer. His work has been displayed by Kodak in Times Square NYC and featured in USA Today. Published in numerous magazines, including Style Me Pretty, Tribeza, Austin Bride, the Knot, Edible Austin, Austin Monthly, Rangefinder Magazine and more, Dustin’s work has earned him acclaim from clients all across the country.